Adjustable frames



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. P. MASCARI ADJUSTABLE FRAMES INVENTOR.

ELTON 2 MAscAI ATTORNEY Sept. 23, 1958 Filed July 1, 1955 United States Patent Oflice 7 2,853,161 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 2,853,161 ADJUSTABLE FRAMES Elton P. Mascari, Levittown, N. Y. Application July 1, 1955, Serial No. 519,535 14 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) This invention relates to building materials and more particularly to improvements in adjustable frames or bucks employed for example, to frame door openings in buildings.

An object of the invention is to provide an adjustable frame or buck of novel construction which may be applied rapidly, easily, permanently and with a minimum of labor about an opening defined in a wall.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel adjustable frame or buck which is capable of being applied about and to frame openings defined in walls of various widths.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a composite frame of separate, relatively adjustable sections, and novel securing means operable to secure the sections together about an opening in a wall and to allow for adjustment of the same against the sides of the wall.

A resulting feature of the invention resides in the securing means which are so simple in operation as to obviate the need for and direction of a skilled artisan.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a frame or buck composed of a plurality of relatively adjustable sections each cooperating with the other in a unique manner to provide a novel adjustable joint therebetween, and in which novel means are provided by which a selected section thereof may be secured in position about the opening and wall during their relative adjustment.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the structures and arrangements hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective View of the adjustable frame secured about an opening and to the wall in accordance with the teaching of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear section of the frame.

Fig. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the front section of the frame including a header guide block locking arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the adjustable frame.

.Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. 4 taken along lines 5-5, while Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the sections of the frame separated from each other, and

Fig. 7 is an expanded view of a modified header guide block locking arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 1 wherein there is disclosed a wall 10 having an opening (not numbered) defined therein framed by a completed frame generally identified by the numeral 12. Although only the front section 14 of the completed frame 12 is shown in Fig. 1, as the description proceeds, it will be recognized that the completed frame 12 is a composite of at least two separate sections, namely a front section 14 and a rear section 16, shown in greater detail in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive. The door 18 which is depicted slightly ajar in Fig. 1 and hinged to the front section 14, has been omitted from the remaining figures of the drawing in order not to encumber the description and drawings with obvious details.

The front and rear sections 14 and 16 (Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive), are preferably formed from continuous strips of metal which are then bent to provide leg portions 20 and 22 and an intermediate header portion 24. Generally when the metal members are bent to form the leg portions 20 and 22 and the intermediate header portion 24, seams 25 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) must be provided which are subsequently welded closed. Corner or seam reinforcing plates 26 are then secured to the bent corners to provide reinforcement thereat.

The front section 14 is formed with a continuous molding 28, better seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The molding 28 includes a leg 30 and an inturned marginal end 32 which is adapted to seat against its respective side of the wall 10 when positioned thereagainst as in Fig. 1. An inner door jamb surface 34 provides a guideway for the swinging of the door-18, while a door stop surface 36 bent at an angle relative to the door jamb surface 34, limits and stops the closing swinging movement of the door 18. The door stop surface 36 terminates and has a portion bent relative thereto to form a strip face 38 having a relatively bent end face 40.

Secured along the leg portions 20 and 22, and at the back portion of the door jamb surface 34, are a plurality of relatively spaced ratchet guide members 42 each having a plurality of one-way ratchet teeth 44. The ratchet guide members 42 are substantially channel or C-shaped, having their backs 45 secured to the inside of the door jamb surface 34, preferably by welding. From Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that each of the ratchet guide members 42 extends beyond the adjacent end face 40 of the front section 14, and spaced therefrom to cooperate with adjacent portions thereof and with adjacent portions of the strip face 38 to form guideways (not numbered) therebetween.

The second or rear section 16 comprises a molding portion 46 including a wall engaging leg 48 and an inturned marginal end 50. An elongated door jamb surface 52, bent relative to the molding portion 46, is adapted for movement into and to be guided in the guideways formed between the ratchet guide members 42 and adjacent portions of the end face 40 and strip face 38 of the front section 14. Secured to the inner or back portion of the molding 46 are a plurality of spaced pawl carrying or tongue or guide members 54 corresponding in number and in relative spacing to the ratchet guide members 42.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 6 of the drawings, it will be noted that the pawl or tongue members 54 extend beyond the edge 53 of the elongated jamb surface 52 of the rear or second section 16. Each of the pawl or tongue members 54 are just sulficiently spaced from the back or inner face of the elongated jamb surface 52 to cooperate with adjacent portions thereof to provide guideways therebetween; each guideway being suflicient in width to accommodate and allow the back walls 45, of corresponding ratchet guide members 42 to enter and be guided therein. This action may be seen more clearly in Fig. 5.

Each pawl or tongue member 54 carries a spring-like pawl member 56 adapted to resiliently ratchet over the one-way ratchet teeth 44 on the ratchet guide members 42 as the rear section 16 is moved relative to and guided in the guideways of the front section 14. When the pawls 56 engage with the ratchet teeth 44 they retain the two sections 14 and 16 in their position of relative adjustment.

At times, because of the height of the leg portions 20 and 22 of the front and rear sections 14 and 16, and the consequent elongated distance between the upper and lower ratchet guide members 42 and tongue members 54, it may be necessary to employ additional guide members 58 (Figs. 3 and 4). The guide members 58 cooperate with adjacent portions. of the end face 40 and strip face 38 of the section 14 to form guideways in the same manner as the guideways are formed between the ratchet guide members 42 and adjacent portions of the strip face 38 and end face 40.. The additional guide members 58 may 'be non-ratcheting as shown or may take the form of additional ratcheting members 42 to thus provide additional support. against possible buckling of the elongated jamb surface 52 as the same is guided between the ratchet guide members 42 and the end face 40 and strip face 38 of the front section 14 in a manner to be described.

Preparatory to shipping the adjustable door frame 12 from the factory to the building site to be installed about an opening defined in a wall 10, the two sections 14 and 16 fare moved relative toward each other. Such relative movement willv position the tongue members 54 within the guiding confines of the channel-shaped members 42 in advance of cooperating contact between the end face 40 and the edge 53 of the elongated jamb 52. A further continuation of movement will also position the ratchet guide members 42 within the guideways formed between the pawl or tongue member 54 and the elongated jamb 52, while the elongated jamb 52 will be guided in the guideways formed between the ratchet guide members 42 and cooperating portions of the end face 40 and the strip face 38. During such facing relative movement, the resilient or spring-like pawl members 56 ratchet over and engage with each successive tooth of cooperating ratchet teeth 44.

The two sections 14 and 16 are moved relative to each other a distance just sufiicient to provide a secure cooperation and engagement therebetween. They are held in cooperating engagement by the cooperation of the ratcheting spring pawls 56 and the ratchet teeth 44. The leg portions 20 and 22 of both sections 14 and 16 areretained from lateral spreading by the addition of a securing bar 60 shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3. The lateral retaining bar 60 bridges a pair of heel securing plates 62 mounted at the heel portions of the legs 20 and 2-2 of the front section 14. The heel securing plates 62 may be provided with a plurality of perforations 64 through which a joining bolt (not shown) may be passed tosecure the retaining bar 60 and heel securing plates 62 together. Thus, when the lateral retaining bar 60 is joined tothe two heel securing plates 62, the leg portions 20 and 22 of both of the front and rear sections 14' and 16' will be retained from lateral movement during shipment of the complete frame 12/ Each of the heel securing plates 62 is preferably welded at its rear end to a heel reinforcing plate 66 (Figs. 3 and 4). Each leg portion 20 and 22 of the front section 14 is provided with one of the heel reinforcing plates 66 which may be suitably secured thereto, as for example, by welding. The heel reinforcing plates 66 provide sufficient reinforcement at and for the heels of the leg portions 20 and 22 of the front section 14, such that a portion of the end face 40 at the heel of the leg portions will notflex when the rear section 16 is moved into engagement and adjustment therewith.

When the complete frame 12 is received at the building site, and transported to the wall about which it is to be adjusted to frame an opening defined therein, the front and rear sections 14 and 16 are then separated from each other by lifting the spring pawls 56 from engagement with the one-way ratchet teeth 44. The. front and rear sections may then be slid relatively away from each other. The lateral retaining bar 60 bolted by way of the perforations 64 to the heel securing members 62 may then be removed. v

The front section 14 of the frame 12, is then ready to be adjusted into position about the opening defined in the wall 10. However, before the front section 14 is placed in position about the opening in the wall 10, a header block 68 (Figs. 3 and 4) is nailed, by nails 70, to the under side of the header stud 72, forming the top of the opening defined in the wall 10 (see Fig. 4). If the header block 68 is nailed accurately, tween the ends of the header studs 72, the lateral flat side 74 thereof will cooperate with and serve to guide a pair of spaced header block guides 76. The guides 76 are secured at their rear ends, to the back of the molding portion 28 of the header portion 24 of the first section 14, preferably by welding.

Once the header block 68 is properly secured to the header stud 72, the inner facing surfaces of the header block guides 76 will ride smoothly along the lateral flat side 74 to properly guide the header portion 24 of the front section 14 as the same is slid into position about the top of the opening to be framed. While the front section 14 frames its respective side of the top of the opening in the. wall 10; as described, a locking cross bar 78 (Figs. 3 and 4), having slots 80 provided in the end thereof, is moved upwardly into cooperation with the header block guides 76 so that its slots 80 will cooperate and engage 'in matching engagement with similar slots 82 in the ends ofv the header block guides 76 (see Fig. 3).

At the same time as the slots 80 and 82 are moved into cooperative engagement, a screw or threaded member 84, provided in the header block 68, passes through an opening 86 defined in the locking cross-bar 78. With the slots 80 and 82 cooperating in locking engagement and with the threaded member 84 passing through the cooperating opening 86, the locking cross bar 78 will be held, tentatively in position relative to the header block guide 76.

A locking nut 88 is then threaded onto and along the screw-like or threaded member 84 to cause the central portion, about the opening 86 of the locking cross bar 78, to move into the confines of a V-shaped groove definedcentrally in the forward portion of the header block 68'. Continued threaded movement of the nut 88 along the length of the screw-like member 84 will pull the locking member 78 sufficiently into the V-shaped groove 90 to shorten the length of the member 78 and to bend and wrap the guides 76 about and into engagement with thetapered sides 92 of the header block 68. The more the guides 76 are wrapped about the sides 92 the more securely will the header portion 24 of the front section 14 be brought into contour tight engagement with the top portion of the wall 10.

The above mentioned locking header block arrangement assures that the header portion 24 of the front section 14 will be pulled and securely retained in contour tight engagement with the top of the opening of the wall 10. Additional securing means such as nails 94 are thendriven through the perforations 64 provided in the heel securing plate 62 and into the floor of the opening defined in the wall 10. With the nails 94 thus securing the heel plates 62 to the floor, the leg portions 20 and 22 of the front section 14 will be securely retained in position about the opening. I

When the rear section 16 is placed about the opening, but on the opposite side of the wall 10 from the front section 14, the protruding pawl carrying or tongue members 54 are each moved forward until they fit within thecorrespondingguide channels provided in the ratchet guide members 42. Continued movement will position the elongated jamb 52 within the guideways defined in the front section 14 between the ratchet guide members 42 and the additional guide members 58, and the cooperating portions of the end face 40' and strip face 38. At' the same time, the ratchet guide members 42 move intotheguidewaysdefined'in the rear section 16 between the guide members 54" and the elongated jamb 52.

During such forward adjustment or forward movement of the rear section 16 toward the already secured front section" 14, the spring-like pawls 56 will be. caused toratchetresiliently over the corresponding one-way ratchet that is, centrally bei teeth 44 until the leg portions 20 and 22 and the header portion 24 of the rear section 16 come into contour abutting relationship with its respective opposite side of the wall 10. The resulting ratcheting engagement between the pawls 56 and the ratchet teeth 44 serves to secure the rear section 16, against its respective side of the wall and in cooperating engagement With the front section 14 to form a composite adjusted frame 12.

It will be obvious that the degree of adjustment of the rear section 16 relative to the previously secured front section 14, will of course depend upon the width of the wall 10. However, once the rear section is moved into contour engagement with its respective side of the wall, the cooperating pawl 56 and one-way ratchet teeth 44 will prevent any relative movement of the rear section.

Referring now to Fig. 7, the numeral d) generally identifies a second embodiment of a header locking arrangement which may be employed instead of that previously described to secure the header portion of the front section 14 against or relative to the header stud 72 of the opening to be framed. In this modified embodiment the header block 163 is accurately nailed, by way of nails 170, to the header stud 72 centrally intermediate the ends thereof. With the header block 168 thus secured to the stud 72, the front section 14, having the header block guides 176 secured to the back portion of the molding 28 thereof, is slid toward its respective side of the wall 10 so that the inner, facing surfaces of the guides 176 will ride along the lateral fiat sides 174 of the block 178, to guide the front section 14 accurately between the sides of the opening in the wall 10.

Once the front section 14 is positioned with its header portion 24 against the top of the opening in the wall 10, a locking cross bar 178 having an opening 180 at one end thereof, is angularly moved about one of the header block guides 176. It is maneuvered relative to the guide 176 such that a bent finger 182 on the end of the header block guide is passed into and through the opening 180 to securely retain the end of the cross bar 178 relative to the block guide. The opposite end of the locking cross bar 178 is provided with a pivotable trunk-type lock 184. The trunk-type lock 184 has a finger actuated extension 186 which is pivoted about a pivot (not shown). On the finger extension 186 there is carried a pivotable loop .188 which is adapted to swing over and engage behind the finger 182 of the opposite block guide 176.

From the above, it should be obvious, that when the opening 130 in one end of the cross bar 178 is so maneuvered as to fit over one of the fingers 182 of one of the guides 176, the finger actuated extension 186 at the other end of the cross bar may be pivoted to elongate the distance between the opening 180 and the pivotable loop 188. When the opening 180 and the pivotable loop 183 are so engaged about their respective fingers 182, the extension 186 may then be operated to move to its closed position such as is shown in Fig. 7. As a result, the distance between the opening 180 and the loop 188 is shortened to pull the-two guides 175 toward each other to wrap the same about and into engagement with the tapered sides 1% of the header block 168.

As the guides 176 are wrapped about the tapered sides 190 of the block 168, the header portion 24 of the front section 14 is then pulled into contour engagement with its respective side of the wall 10 to securely retain the front section thereagainst. Subsequent nailing of the heel-securing plates 62 into engagement with the floor about the opening of the Wall 10 is carried out in the same manner as previously described.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to several preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated and in their operations may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of therefore, to be limited of the claims appended the invention. It is the intention, only as indicated by the scope hereto.

I claim:

1. In a frame adjustable to various wall widths, at least two metallic frame sections movable relative to each other to form a complete frame, a guide member on one of said sectons to form a guideway with a portion thereof, a guide member on the other of said sections to form a guideway with a portion thereof to guide said first mentioned guide member therein while said portion of said other of said sections is guided in said guideway formed on said one of said sections, said guide means on said one section having an opening to guidingly receive said guide means on said other section, and cooperable securing means on said sections to secure said frame sections in their adjustment relative to each other.

2. In a frame adjustable to various Wall widths, at least two metallic frame sections, one of said sections having a guide member cooperating with a portion thereof to form a guideway therebetween, the other of said sections having a guide member, a jamb on said other section cooperating with said second mentioned guide member to form a guideway therebetween, said jamb being elongated and adapted to be guided in said guideway of said one section while said guide member of said one section is guided in said guideway of said other section, said guide means on said one section having a groove in which said guide means on said other section is received, and means on said one section cooperating with said jamb to form a joint therebetween.

3. in a frame adjustable to various wall widths, a first metallic frame section including an elongated jamb and a guide member cooperating with said jamb to form a guideway therebetween, a second metallic frame section including a jamb, a door stop surface, a face and an end face, and a guide member on said second section having means defining a guideway to receive said guide member of said first section and cooperating with said end face to form a guideway therebetween to guide said elongated jamb for adjustment therein, said end face cooperating with said elongated jamb and movable therealong to form a joint between said two sections while said first section is adjusted in Width relative to said second section and said guide member on said second section is adjusted in said guideway of said first section and receives therein the guide member of said first section.

4. In a frame for adjustably framing a wall opening in which there is a header defining a portion of the opening, first and second sections movable relative to each other for adjustment to the width of the Wall, a header block adapted to be secured to the header, and means on said first section of said frame cooperable with said header block to secure said first section to the header and about its respective side of the wall.

5. In a frame as in claim 4, said means including spaced guides cooperable with said header block to be guided thereby and to guide said first section into position about said opening, and lock means cooperable with said guides to secure the same to the header.

6. In a frame as in claim 5, said spaced guides having slots defined therein, said lock means having slots cooperable with said slots in said guides, threaded means in said header block, an opening defined in said lock means and cooperating with said threaded means to accommodate the same therein, and a nut threadable along said threaded means and against saidlock means to secure the lock means, spaced guides and said first section to the header block and header.

7. In a frame as in claim 5, said spaced guides having outwardly directed fingers, said lock means having an opening defined in one end thereof and cooperable with one or" said fingers to accommodate the same therein, the other end of said lock means having a pivotable loop means to accommodate therein a finger on another of 7 a d s aced uides said rotatable oop ea e n op b e t m9? its 1 2 a dhorten the s an e b e the loop and the opening at said one end of said lock means to secure said lock means, spaced guides and said first section to the header.

8. A frame as in claim, 4, g nide means on said first section cooperating with a portion thereof to form a guideway therebetween, guide means on said second section cooperating with a portion thereof to form a guideway therebetwecn, said portion on said second section being adjustable in said guideway of said first section and said guide means on said first section being adjustable in said guideway of said second section, and means on said first and second sections to secure the same in their adjustment and about their respective sides of the wall.

9 In a metallic frame adjustable to various wall widths, two metallic sections, one of said sections including a guide member forming a guideway with a portion of said section, said guide member having ratchet means thereon of a groove defined therein, the other of said sections being adjustable relative to said one section and including a ratcheting member forming a guideway with a portion of said other section and movable with said other section relative to. said one section and into the groove of said guide member thereof, said portions of each of said sections being movable in the guideways of the other sections, and ratcheting means on said ratcheting member engageable with said ratchet means on said guide member to secure said sections in adjustment.

10. In a frame as in claim 9, said guide member having one-way ratchet teeth, said ratcheting member having a spring pawl thereon for ratcheting engagement in one direction with said ratchet teeth.

11. In a frame as in claim 10, said guide member extending beyond said guideway formed on said one sec tion, and said ratcheting member extending beyond said guideway formed on said other section.

12. A frame for adjustably framing a wall opening in which there is a header defining a portion of the opening, said frame comprising first and second sections movable relative to each other for adjustment to the width of the wall, a header block adapted to be secured to the header, means on said first section cooperable with said header block to secure said first section to said header block and header and about its respective side of th Wall, at least one of said sections having a guide memher eooperating with a portion thereof to form a guide: a e e e w en, at lea t t e oth of Said o s ha ing a pawl member, a jamb on the other of said sections cooperating with said pawl member to form a guideway therebetween, said. jarnb being elongated and adapted to be guided in said first mentioned guideway while said guide member is guided in said second mentioned guideway, means on said one of said sections cooperable with said jamb to form an adjustable joint therebetween, ratchet teeth on said guide member, and a resilicnt pawl on said pawl member movable into adjustable cooperating engagement with said ratchet teeth to lock said sections in their adjusted widths.

13. A frame as in claim 12, said guide member having groove means to guide said pawl member therein and relative to said ratchet teeth, said guide member extending beyond said respective guideway, and said pawl member extending beyond its respective guideway.

14. A frame for framing openings in walls of various widths comprising, in combination, first and second metallic sections movable against opposite sides of the wall and adjustable relative to each other to form a complete frame, each of said sections having a pair of legs and a head, a header block to be secured to the header portion of said opening, means on said head of said first section cooperable with said header block to secure the first section to the header block and header portion of said opening, perforate heel securing means on the heel portion of each of said legs of said first section to be nailed through said perforations to the foot of said opening, one-way ratchet means on oneof said sections, and pawl means on the other of said sections adjustable relative to said ratchet in accordance with the relative adjustment of said sections and engageable with said ratchet means in one direction to lock said sections in adjustment to form said complete frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,988 Mayo Dec. 31., 1912 1,343,279 Reynolds June 15, 1920 1,855,470 Bilton Apr. 26, 1932 1,948,602 Tracy Feb. 27, 1934 2,582,765 Brew Ian. 15, 1952 

